Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell is thanking the people praying for him and sharing encouraging progress after the neck injury that sent him to the hospital during Sunday’s game.
“My faith in God has never been stronger. I know He has a plan for me, and I trust in that plan,” Campbell shared in a statement released by the Lions on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
In his first public comments since the injury, reported by PEOPLE, Campbell said he has full movement in his lower body and continues to make progress with movement in his upper body. He described himself as optimistic while acknowledging that more work lies ahead.
“I’m incredibly encouraged by the progress I’ve made in such a short period of time,” Campbell assessed.
For now, he said, his approach is to take things one day at a time, stay positive and concentrate on getting better. He did not give a timetable for returning to football.
His thank-you list began with the love, prayers and support he and his family have received over the past few days. Campbell said that response means more to them than words can express, and he asked people to continue praying.
Related: Lions Turn to Jesus in Prayer After LB’s Frightening Injury
He also singled out the athletic trainers and medical personnel who cared for him on the field. Remembering how difficult those moments were, he expressed gratitude for their professionalism, compassion and care when he needed help most.
Campbell extended that thanks to the medical team at Henry Ford Hospital and the Lions’ medical staff. Their care for both him and his family has been a significant part of his experience, he said.
The new statement offers a more personal picture than the Lions’ Nov. 2 hospital update, which said only that preliminary indications were positive and that the team would respect his family’s privacy.
Campbell suffered the injury while making a tackle on the first play of the fourth quarter in Detroit’s Nov. 1 victory over Minnesota. In a separate Nov. 2 team report, head coach Dan Campbell said he and several teammates had visited the hospital; that report also described Jack as a team captain and a respected leader on defense.
Now Jack is returning that affection. He told his teammates, coaches and the organization how much he loves and appreciates them, describing the team as family and expressing pride in being a Detroit Lion.
He also connected his approach to recovery with the toughness, resilience and grit he has come to associate with Detroit. The message was hopeful, but it left room for the work still ahead and the support he continues to need.
“Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers,” Campbell asked his fans.
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